Automated Battery Exchange Robot with Multi-Axis Transport Plane
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery exchange systems for vehicles require excavation and expose batteries to dirt and damage, especially when objects are driven over, and lack flexibility and automation.
Innovation Solution
A robot-based system with a horizontally placed compartment in the vehicle for battery storage, equipped with a transport plane that can extend and move in multiple directions, using optical means for positioning and a gripper for secure battery handling, allowing fully automatic exchange above ground level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a battery exchange system operates from beneath the vehicle using an excavated pit, then battery replacement can be performed, but the system requires considerable excavation and exposes batteries to dirt and damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of operating from beneath the vehicle as in prior art, the patent inverts the approach by operating from above the vehicle. The robot positions itself above the vehicle and uses a vertically extending transport plane to access the battery compartment, eliminating the need for excavation and protecting batteries from ground-level hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the battery exchange operation from the ground level environment and relocates it to above-ground level. By removing the dependency on excavated pits and ground-based mechanisms, the system eliminates exposure to dirt and damage while maintaining battery replacement functionality.
2Extent of automation
If a robot with extendable transport plane is used for battery exchange, then automation and flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is designed with a transport plane that can perform multiple functions: extending vertically to reach the battery compartment, moving horizontally to position over different battery locations, and rotating to accommodate various vehicle orientations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized mechanisms for each operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport plane incorporates dynamic elements including extension mechanisms that adjust length, rotation capabilities that change orientation, and translation mechanisms that reposition the plane. These dynamic features enable the robot to adapt to different battery positions and vehicle configurations, achieving high automation with a flexible but integrated mechanism.
3Measurement precision
If optical means are used for battery positioning, then precision is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical markers as intermediaries between the battery and the robot's detection system. These markers provide clear, easily detectable reference points that simplify the optical measurement process. The markers serve as mediators that translate complex battery positions into simple, detectable optical signals for the robot's positioning system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, automated, and protected battery exchange without excavation, ensuring battery compatibility and flexibility in handling different battery types, while maintaining the environment clean and safe from damage.
Implementation Method 1
the robot is caused to determine by means of an optical means the position of the battery
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for exchanging batteries in battery-powered vehicles, comprising a robot (1) for the transport of a battery (2) to and from the vehicle (3). The invention is characterised in that the vehicle (3) is provided with a horizontally placed compartment (4) for one or several batteries (2) lying parallel to each other, in that the robot (1) is provided with a transport plane (6) that can be extended and withdrawn in one direction (9), in that the transport plane (6) can be displaced also along two mutually perpendicular directions (10, 11) relative to the said direction (9). The vehicle (3) is caused to take up a predetermined location relative to the robot (1) close to the cover, in that the robot is caused to determine by means of an optical means (15) the position of the battery in the compartment (4), in that the robot is caused to displace the said transport plane (6) to a predetermined position relative to the battery, in that a withdrawal means (17-20) is caused to be attached to the battery in the said compartment, in that the battery is withdrawn from the said compartment with the withdrawal means to the transport plane (6), in that the robot (1) is caused to transport the battery to a charging station (21), in that the robot (1) is caused to transport a charged battery from a store (21) of charged batteries to the said transport plane (6), in that a displacement means (17- 20) is caused to insert at a predetermined position the battery (2) into the said compartment (4), and in that the cover (5) is caused to be closed.